Bellator vet Blagoi Ivanov has been placed in a medically induced coma in the intensive care unit of the Bulgarian hospital he has been recovering in since being stabbed more than six weeks ago in his homeland.
This according to a press release by the hospital, sent out today.
Doctors are planning to start hemodialysis on Ivanov soon in an attempt to save his kidneys from further damage. His breathing is being assisted by a respirator and he is being pumped full of a steady supply of antibiotics to ward off infection.
There’s no word on whether or not his physicians expect him to fully recover from the attack.
Meanwhile, Blagoi’s 23-year-old assailant, who is believed to have been part of a large group of thugs armed with bats and knives that attacked Ivanov and his two companions without provocation, is being held indefinitely, charged with attempted murder.
His defense team is claiming self-defense as they say it was Blagoi provoked and slapped him, but friends of the gravely injured fighter insist Ivanov was attacked while breaking up a fight.
We’ll have more on Ivanov’s condition as we receive updates.